INTRODUCTION of Durham, Charles Pepys the Earl of Cottenham, after whom a number of local roads have been named, and the Duke of Wellington son of the ‘Iron Duke’. Conservation areas are designated by the Council as areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which should be preserved or enhanced. The Copse Hill conservation After lying empty for several years Prospect Place and the Estate was eventually acquired by William area was designated by Merton Council, following a Borough-wide review, in November 1990. COPSE HILL Sim in 1863 who parcelled up the land and sold it off for development; the house was eventually pulled down to make way for the Atkinson Morley Hospital. All that survives is the former stable The unique character and appearance of the Copse Hill area derives from its special historic interest, building located close to the boundary with Copse Hill. The 1852 map of the Cottenham Estate the number buildings of architectural importance and interest, two of which are Listed, the areas shows how it was parcelled for sale with Prospect Place still in place. archaeological importance, its topography deriving from its location covering one of the highest parts of the Borough, the very low built area footprint and the way the built form fits into a wide area After the demolition of Prospect Place, the Estate came on to the market and 28 of the 40 acres on of predominantly open space. The area also benefits from a significant and unusual ecology, CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER ASSESSMENT the south side of Copse Hill were acquired in 1863 by St. George’s Hospital, with funds received particularly within the grounds of the Atkinson Morley Hospital, and extensive open spaces which from Mr. Atkinson Morley’s will, to build a convalescent home, out of London, for poor people. The remaining 12 acres, to the east of the Atkinson support a diversity of recreational, leisure and sporting the design of which has been attributed to HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE Morley site were sold off separately and two activities. Humphrey Repton. CONSERVATION AREA houses were built, Copse Hill House and These features taken together reinforce the unique semi- The more recent Ordnance Survey map of 1886, “Cottenham”, of which only “Cottenham” rural character and appearance of the area as a whole. Cottenham Estate also shows surviving features of this landscaping, survives. This character assessment covers the whole of the although much of the ‘Estate’ at this time is shown The Atkinson Morley Grounds embracing the former Little evidence survives relating to the history conservation area and provides an analysis of the area’s to have been developed. This map shows most of Oberon Playing Fields, now Raynes Park High School of Copse Hill house, although between 1892 history and development, and identifies the main the roads in the area laid. playing fields, and the allotments are all part of what was and 1912 it appears to have been the architectural features, and important qualities that the “Cottenham Estate”. The Map of 1933 shows the early stages of the residence of Sir Charles Tyrrell Giles JP a contribute to the areas’ special character. The appraisal development of the Atkinson Morley hospital The first real built development within the area occurred local magistrate who was also Chairman of is not intended to be comprehensive and the omission complex, with the main hospital building completed. in 1757-9 when Peter Taylor, a London Goldsmith, built the Wimbledon and Putney Common of any particular building, feature or space should not This map also shows the development of Thurstan Prospect Place. In 1767 Prospect Place and an Estate of Conservators from 1892 until his death in be taken to imply that it is of no interest. Road and Wimbledon Cottage Hospital to which 6 acres was sold to Moses Isaac Levy who extended the 1940. Copse Hill House was eventually Merton Council hopes that residents will find this leaflet Thurstan Road once led. house and laid out the original gardens. In 1792 the Estate demolished to make way for the new housing was acquired by James Meyrick, a parliamentary agent. of interest and take into account the recommendations From the earliest maps, the main tangible historic in Cottenham Drive in the early 1960s. made in it when considering alterations and He purchased additional lands and was responsible for elements which appear to have influenced the “Cottenham” was built just a few years after improvements to their properties. A separate ‘Design the main expansion of the Estate. At its most extensive present topography of the area are some surviving the demolition of ‘Prospect Place’, around Guide’ has been prepared which provides advice on the Estate covered up to 250 Acres extending as far south areas of woodland, remnants of historic field 1867-68, immediately adjacent the hospital. improvements that can be carried out by residents to as the railway line, which was diverted to avoid it. The boundaries, surviving trees from an early designed A handsome villa the house which took its preserve and enhance their area, copies of this leaflet grounds included decorative gardens with a five acre lawn landscape, the alignment of Copse Hill and the name from Charles Christopher Pepys, first can be obtained from the London Borough of Merton. and fine trees laid to a design attributed to Humphrey roadway from Cottenham Park Road to the back of Repton. Earl of Cottenham, was probably built for its ORIGINS OF THE CONSERVATION AREA MAP 1865 the Atkinson Morley Hospital believed to have once first occupant, George Walker a wealthy East part of the original driveway to Prospect Place. From 1831 onwards the Estate had a succession of MAP 1933 India Merchant. Listed Grade II the house has The present Copse Hill conservation area covers an area distinguished owners, including Henry Lambton, later Earl of approximately 20 Hectares (50 Acres) which, apart been much extended and altered over the from a small area embracing Thurstan Road and years and is now a significant building within adjacent houses on the north side of Copse Hill, occupies the conservation area.

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RT 1 the area of land located to the south of Copse Hill, extending down to Cambridge Road and currently E 1 Although the architect for the house is not known for certain, it was probably designed by John LL E CLOSE 4 26 OLSEY 9 W 10 8 4a W

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The land for the Oberon Playing Fields had been used for sport by Wimbledon College until the

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Laid out on land which was formerly part of the Drax Estate, Thurstan Road was named after Edward Thurstan Holland who was the first Honorary Secretary and Treasurer to Wimbledon Cottage Hospital which once occupied the site at the end of this road which was also originally part of the Drax Estate. The houses were built during the early 1870s by a James Mayhew for Sir Henry W Peek, MP for Mid-Surrey between 1868 and 1884. The son of James Peek, the founder of Peek Freans the biscuit firm, Sir Henry W Peek was a developer who built farms, schools, churches and estate cottages. At Rousdon in Devon he created a whole community in a similar vein to Saltaire and Port Sunlight. In the Wimbledon Area he also built ‘Cinque Cottages’ in Crooked Billet and was influential in securing the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871 preventing enclosure of the Common. He lived at Wimbledon House in Parkside which once occupied a site straddling Marryat Road MAP 1850 close to its junction with the High Street.